Fund boost will keep groups' work going (From Oxford Mail)

Fund boost will keep groups' work going

1:50pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News

TWO community groups are celebrating after they were awarded nearly £1,900 between them.

The East Oxford Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, run by five volunteers for 23 youngsters, received £500 towards venue hire for the year.

And Banbury’s Sunrise Multicultural Project received £1,400 to run a weekly women’s only aerobics class at Woodgreen Leisure Centre.

Both awards were made by The Co-operative Membership Community Fund.

Kim Hopkinson, deputy manager for widening participation at The Sunrise Multicultural Project, said: “Some of the women would not be able to go out to classes for financial or cultural reasons, so this class gives people an opportunity to get out to do sport and get fit.”

Volunteer Kate Coldwell, district commissioner for the East Oxford Rainbows, Brownies and Guides group, said: “It makes me feel more secure about the future of the unit.”

The community fund is created by members of the co-operative group who choose to donate all, or part, of their twice-yearly dividend payments directly to the scheme.

There is about £90,000 available in the central and eastern region each year. Visit co-operative.coop/communityfund or call 0844 262 4001 to apply.